With two big pins in upper weights, California Red edges Texas Red, 39-36 in USMC Junior Girls Folkstyle Duals
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by Gary Abbott, USA Wrestling
Emily Sandoval of California squares off with Ashley Lekas of Texas at 180 pounds. Sandoval's helped push California to the victory, Photo by Dana Strange.
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. – There’s nothing more exciting than a close dual meet between two talented teams that comes down to the last few bouts. That is what happened on Sunday in the finals of the Junior Girls Folkstyle Duals at the Cox Convention Center.
It was the biggest field in the history of the event, with 21 teams battling on Sunday. The top two favorites going in were able to power through to the championship finals dual, as California Red and Texas Red battled for bragging rights.
Both teams dominated their semifinals, with California Red stopping Ohio, 65-12 and Texas Red putting away Kansas, 51-21.
Fueled by pins at Emily Sandoval at 180 pounds and Alexandra Castillo at 200 pounds, California Red edged Texas Red, 39-36.
The early part of the dual included five straight pins, three for California and two for Texas. Getting early falls for California were Cadet National folkstyle champion Lizette Rodriguez (100), Rory Coscia, who was fourth in the Junior Folkstyle Nationals (117) and Adriana Lopez (122). Getting early falls for Texas were Junior National Folkstyle champion Samara Chavez (106) and Cadet National Folkstyle champion Camille Fournier (112).
One of the first big battles of top stars came at 127 pounds, which was rematch of the Junior Folkstyle Nationals finals. Junior Folkstyle National champion Xochitl Motta-Pettis of Texas scored a 13-3 major decision over Folkstyle Nationals runner-up Caitlyn Cardenas. The night before, Motta-Pettis had pinned Cardenas.
The teams split the next four matches. California got a pin from Junior Folkstyle National champion Destiny Lyng at 144 pounds, plus a decision by Dalia Garibay at 132 pounds. Garibay was fourth in Saturday’s Junior Folkstyle Nationals.
But Texas had a big win at 138 pounds, when state champion Lexie Basham, who was third at the Junior Folkstyle Nationals, scored a 19-4 technical fall over Cadet Folkstyle National champion Joanna Qiu. The match that turned this into a close contest came at 152 pounds, when Kaylynn Albrecht of Texas pinned California state runner-up Liliana Vergara in 1:44, firing up the Texas cheering section.
The dual meet was tied at 27-27 with four matches to go.
Texas took a lead with a mild upset at 164 pounds. Augustana Ijoma, who was sixth in the Junior Folkstyle Nationals, scored a takedown with one second left in the second period for a 3-0 lead over Katja Osteen of California, who had won both the Cadet and Junior Folkstyle Nationals this week. Ijoma rode Osteen out for a 3-0 win. The two had met in the Junior Folkstyle National semifinals, when Ijoma lost by disqualification.
Texas led 30-27 with three bouts to go, and the Junior National champion Alyssa Alvarez ready to go in the final match at 225. However California, which weighed had two options at 180 pounds, played their cards correctly.
Sandoval, a state runner-up at 170 pounds, scored a pin over Ashley Lekas in 3:11 at 180 pounds. Alexandra Castillo, a state champion who was second in Junior Folkstyle Nationals at 180 pounds, moved up to 200 and pinned Texas state runner-up Bianca Rosales in 2:10. Castillo’s pin clinched the dual meet for California.
“We had three 180-pounders. We didn’t know what they had. We had to figure which was the best matchup. We went with Sandoval. She had a good tournament this year. We told her we needed a win there, and she got a pin, which was huge. Alex at 200, who was in the finals, is very good and is a pinner. We felt good about her, after Sandoval gets that pin. We felt we could win this now, because Alex gets a lot of pins,” said California coach Jimmy Medeiros.
In the final match, national champion Alvarez scored a pin for Texas over Lillian McCoy, making it only a three-point difference between the two powerhouse teams.
In 2017, two California teams made the finals of these duals, with California A beating California B, 65-10. However, Texas, with a lineup loaded with nationally ranked wrestlers, stood up strong and almost came away with the win against the defending champions.
“Competition makes us better. If we wrestle ourselves every time, and face our B team in the final, we don’t feel like we have to come here and challenge ourselves. Having someone smack you in the face a little bit makes you tougher and makes you build up. Next year, we tell our girls, we need you here, because we aren’t going to win the dual without you being there,” said Medeiros.
In the medal match round, California Blue dominanted Georgia 64-10 to take third, while Kansas got past Ohio 36-30 for fifth place.
USMC JUNIOR GIRLS FOLKSTYLE NATIONAL DUALS
At Oklahoma City, Okla., March 25
Championship Dual Meet - California Red 39, Texas Red 36
100 – Lizette Rodriguez (CA Red) pin Brittany Cotter (TX Red), 5:26
106 – Samara Chavez (TX Red) pin Mikayla Vega (CA Red), 1:30
112 – Camille Fournier (TX Red) pin Sugey Ceja (CA Red), 3:37
117 – Rory Coscia (CA Red) pin Emily Fergeson (TX Red), 1:59
122 - Adriana Lopez (CA Red) pin Colleen Weber (TX Red), 1:08
127 – Xochitl Motta-Pettis (TX Red) maj. dec. Caitlyn Cardenas (CA Red), 13-3
132 – Dalia Garibay (CA Red) dec. Jacqueline Ghent (TX Red), 5-3
138 – Lexie Basham (TX Red) tech. fall Joanna Qiu (CA Red), 19-4
144 – Destiny Lyng (CA Red) pin Jude Miller (TX Red), 1:17
152 – Kaylynn Albrecht (TX Red) pin Liliana Vergara (CA Red), 1:44
164 – Augustana Ijoma (TX Red) dec. Katja Osteen (CA Red), 3-0
180 – Emily Sandoval (CA Red) pin Ashley Lekas (TX Red), 3:11
200 – Alexandra Castillo (CA Red) pin Bianca Rosales (TX Red), 2:10
225 – Alyssa Alvarez (TX Red) pin Lillian McCoy (CA Red), 2:54
3rd Place – California Blue 64, Georgia 10
100 – Unity Cordova (CA Blue) maj. dec. Morgan Wilmoth (GA), 10-1
106 – Michaela Herrera (GA) by forfeit
112 – Veroncia Machain (CA Blue) dec. Catherine Bertrand (GA), 3-0
117 – Alisha Narvaez (CA Blue) pin Mia Kurashima (GA), 2:44
122 – Niya Tersita Gaines (CA Blue) pin Kaylie Fletcher (GA), 0:22
127 – Natalia Urbas (CA Blue) dec. Aki Choates (GA), 7-3
132 – Itzel Galaviz (CA Blue) pin Keriana Potts (GA), 0:37
138 – Amy Gathings (CA Blue) pin Cassidy Potts (GA), 0:28
144 – Tiyahna Askew (GA) maj. dec. Kaitlain Gilmour (CA Blue), 14-4
152 – Tiffany Calderon (CA Blue) pin Destinee Rivera (KS), 2:00
164 – Ali Abushi (CA Blue) won by forfeit
180 – Folashade Akinola (CA Blue) pin Victoria Mendoza (KS), 0:26
200 – Amara Devericks (CA Blue) pin Stacey Pgouda (KS)
225 – Hollie Espinoza (CA Blue) pin Mackenzie Clark (KS), 4:25
5th Place – Kansas 36, Ohio 30
100 – Samantha Miller (OH) by forfeit
106 – Nicole Moore (KS) dec. Olivia Shore (OH), 4-2
112 – Kendall Bostelman (OH) dec. Amanda Newcomb (KS), 1:32
117 – Jordyn Knecht (KS) pin Kailiena Allen (OH), 5:47
122 – Andrea Schlabach (OH) pin Elise Rose (KS), 0:50
127 – Daisy Shardy (OH) pin Taylor Rosner (KS), 1:08
132 – Morgan Mayginnes (KS) pin Aliza Stahl (OH), 0:56
138 – Breanna Douglas (KS) pin Cassandra Smith (OH), 0:32
144 – Lyric Gonzalves (Ks) pin Alyssa Pirro (OH), 0:58
152 – Jaylynne Smith (KS) by forfeit
180 – Elisa Robinson (KS) dec. Mckhenna Calhoun (OH), 4-0
200 – Kendall Bostelman (OH) pin Grace Pinkerton (KS), 5:11
Semifinals
California Red 65, Ohio 12
100 – Samantha Miller (OH) dec Hailey Ward (CA), 7-2
106 – Taryn Martin (OH) by forfeit
112 – Sugey Ceja (CA Red) tech. fall Kendall Bostelman (OH), 15-0
117 – Rory Coscia (CA Red) pin Kailiena Allen (OH), 2:24
122 – Andrea Schlaach (OH) dec. Adriana Lopez (CA Red), 6-5
127 – Caitlyn Cardenas (CA Red) pin Daisy Shardy (OH), 2:50
132 – Dalia Garibay (CA Red) by forfeit
138 – Destiny Lyng (CA Red) pin Allysa Pirro (OH), 1:16
144 – Joanna Qiu (CA Red) by forfeit
152 – Sierra Van Rossem (CA Red) by forfeit
164 – Katja Osteen (CA Red) by forfeit
180 – Alexandra Castillo (CA Red) pin Mckhenna Calhoun (OH), 5:34
200 – Emily Sandoval (CA Red) pin Kendall Bostelman (OH), 2:56
225 – Lillian McCoy (CA Red) by forfeit
Texas Red 51, Kansas 21
100 – Chalimar Rodriguez (TX Red) by forfeit
106 – Samara Chavez (TX Red) dec. Nicole Moore (KS), 10-3
112 – Camille Fournier (TX Red) pin Amanda Newcomb (KS), 1:59
117 – Emily Fergeson (TX Red) dec. Elise Rose (KS), 7-0
122 – Jordyn Knecht (KS) pin Cecilia Adams, 1:07
127 – Xochitl Mota-Pettis (TX Red) pin Taylor Rosner (KS), 0:32
132 – Morgan Mayginnes (KS) by forfeit
138 – Breanna Douglas (KS) pin Lexie Basham (TX Red), 2:41
144 – Jordan Suarez (TX Red) dec. Lyric Gonsalvez (KS), 5-3
152 – Kaylynn Albrecht (TX Red) pin Jaylynne Smith (KS), 1:46
164 – Augustina Ijoma (TX Red) by forfeit
180 – Elisa Robinson (KS) dec. Yissmet Perez Mesa (TX Red), 6-1
200 – Daya Powell (TX Red) pin Grace Pinkerton (KS), 1:38
225 – Alyssa Alvarez (TX Red) by forfeit
Quarterfinal results
California Red 57, Team Indiana 6
Ohio 43, Texas Blue 30
Kansas 48, Michigan Women’s National Team 22
Texas Red 52, California Blue 15
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. – There’s nothing more exciting than a close dual meet between two talented teams that comes down to the last few bouts. That is what happened on Sunday in the finals of the Junior Girls Folkstyle Duals at the Cox Convention Center.
It was the biggest field in the history of the event, with 21 teams battling on Sunday. The top two favorites going in were able to power through to the championship finals dual, as California Red and Texas Red battled for bragging rights.
Both teams dominated their semifinals, with California Red stopping Ohio, 65-12 and Texas Red putting away Kansas, 51-21.
Fueled by pins at Emily Sandoval at 180 pounds and Alexandra Castillo at 200 pounds, California Red edged Texas Red, 39-36.
The early part of the dual included five straight pins, three for California and two for Texas. Getting early falls for California were Cadet National folkstyle champion Lizette Rodriguez (100), Rory Coscia, who was fourth in the Junior Folkstyle Nationals (117) and Adriana Lopez (122). Getting early falls for Texas were Junior National Folkstyle champion Samara Chavez (106) and Cadet National Folkstyle champion Camille Fournier (112).
One of the first big battles of top stars came at 127 pounds, which was rematch of the Junior Folkstyle Nationals finals. Junior Folkstyle National champion Xochitl Motta-Pettis of Texas scored a 13-3 major decision over Folkstyle Nationals runner-up Caitlyn Cardenas. The night before, Motta-Pettis had pinned Cardenas.
The teams split the next four matches. California got a pin from Junior Folkstyle National champion Destiny Lyng at 144 pounds, plus a decision by Dalia Garibay at 132 pounds. Garibay was fourth in Saturday’s Junior Folkstyle Nationals.
But Texas had a big win at 138 pounds, when state champion Lexie Basham, who was third at the Junior Folkstyle Nationals, scored a 19-4 technical fall over Cadet Folkstyle National champion Joanna Qiu. The match that turned this into a close contest came at 152 pounds, when Kaylynn Albrecht of Texas pinned California state runner-up Liliana Vergara in 1:44, firing up the Texas cheering section.
The dual meet was tied at 27-27 with four matches to go.
Texas took a lead with a mild upset at 164 pounds. Augustana Ijoma, who was sixth in the Junior Folkstyle Nationals, scored a takedown with one second left in the second period for a 3-0 lead over Katja Osteen of California, who had won both the Cadet and Junior Folkstyle Nationals this week. Ijoma rode Osteen out for a 3-0 win. The two had met in the Junior Folkstyle National semifinals, when Ijoma lost by disqualification.
Texas led 30-27 with three bouts to go, and the Junior National champion Alyssa Alvarez ready to go in the final match at 225. However California, which weighed had two options at 180 pounds, played their cards correctly.
Sandoval, a state runner-up at 170 pounds, scored a pin over Ashley Lekas in 3:11 at 180 pounds. Alexandra Castillo, a state champion who was second in Junior Folkstyle Nationals at 180 pounds, moved up to 200 and pinned Texas state runner-up Bianca Rosales in 2:10. Castillo’s pin clinched the dual meet for California.
“We had three 180-pounders. We didn’t know what they had. We had to figure which was the best matchup. We went with Sandoval. She had a good tournament this year. We told her we needed a win there, and she got a pin, which was huge. Alex at 200, who was in the finals, is very good and is a pinner. We felt good about her, after Sandoval gets that pin. We felt we could win this now, because Alex gets a lot of pins,” said California coach Jimmy Medeiros.
In the final match, national champion Alvarez scored a pin for Texas over Lillian McCoy, making it only a three-point difference between the two powerhouse teams.
In 2017, two California teams made the finals of these duals, with California A beating California B, 65-10. However, Texas, with a lineup loaded with nationally ranked wrestlers, stood up strong and almost came away with the win against the defending champions.
“Competition makes us better. If we wrestle ourselves every time, and face our B team in the final, we don’t feel like we have to come here and challenge ourselves. Having someone smack you in the face a little bit makes you tougher and makes you build up. Next year, we tell our girls, we need you here, because we aren’t going to win the dual without you being there,” said Medeiros.
In the medal match round, California Blue dominanted Georgia 64-10 to take third, while Kansas got past Ohio 36-30 for fifth place.
USMC JUNIOR GIRLS FOLKSTYLE NATIONAL DUALS
At Oklahoma City, Okla., March 25
Championship Dual Meet - California Red 39, Texas Red 36
100 – Lizette Rodriguez (CA Red) pin Brittany Cotter (TX Red), 5:26
106 – Samara Chavez (TX Red) pin Mikayla Vega (CA Red), 1:30
112 – Camille Fournier (TX Red) pin Sugey Ceja (CA Red), 3:37
117 – Rory Coscia (CA Red) pin Emily Fergeson (TX Red), 1:59
122 - Adriana Lopez (CA Red) pin Colleen Weber (TX Red), 1:08
127 – Xochitl Motta-Pettis (TX Red) maj. dec. Caitlyn Cardenas (CA Red), 13-3
132 – Dalia Garibay (CA Red) dec. Jacqueline Ghent (TX Red), 5-3
138 – Lexie Basham (TX Red) tech. fall Joanna Qiu (CA Red), 19-4
144 – Destiny Lyng (CA Red) pin Jude Miller (TX Red), 1:17
152 – Kaylynn Albrecht (TX Red) pin Liliana Vergara (CA Red), 1:44
164 – Augustana Ijoma (TX Red) dec. Katja Osteen (CA Red), 3-0
180 – Emily Sandoval (CA Red) pin Ashley Lekas (TX Red), 3:11
200 – Alexandra Castillo (CA Red) pin Bianca Rosales (TX Red), 2:10
225 – Alyssa Alvarez (TX Red) pin Lillian McCoy (CA Red), 2:54
3rd Place – California Blue 64, Georgia 10
100 – Unity Cordova (CA Blue) maj. dec. Morgan Wilmoth (GA), 10-1
106 – Michaela Herrera (GA) by forfeit
112 – Veroncia Machain (CA Blue) dec. Catherine Bertrand (GA), 3-0
117 – Alisha Narvaez (CA Blue) pin Mia Kurashima (GA), 2:44
122 – Niya Tersita Gaines (CA Blue) pin Kaylie Fletcher (GA), 0:22
127 – Natalia Urbas (CA Blue) dec. Aki Choates (GA), 7-3
132 – Itzel Galaviz (CA Blue) pin Keriana Potts (GA), 0:37
138 – Amy Gathings (CA Blue) pin Cassidy Potts (GA), 0:28
144 – Tiyahna Askew (GA) maj. dec. Kaitlain Gilmour (CA Blue), 14-4
152 – Tiffany Calderon (CA Blue) pin Destinee Rivera (KS), 2:00
164 – Ali Abushi (CA Blue) won by forfeit
180 – Folashade Akinola (CA Blue) pin Victoria Mendoza (KS), 0:26
200 – Amara Devericks (CA Blue) pin Stacey Pgouda (KS)
225 – Hollie Espinoza (CA Blue) pin Mackenzie Clark (KS), 4:25
5th Place – Kansas 36, Ohio 30
100 – Samantha Miller (OH) by forfeit
106 – Nicole Moore (KS) dec. Olivia Shore (OH), 4-2
112 – Kendall Bostelman (OH) dec. Amanda Newcomb (KS), 1:32
117 – Jordyn Knecht (KS) pin Kailiena Allen (OH), 5:47
122 – Andrea Schlabach (OH) pin Elise Rose (KS), 0:50
127 – Daisy Shardy (OH) pin Taylor Rosner (KS), 1:08
132 – Morgan Mayginnes (KS) pin Aliza Stahl (OH), 0:56
138 – Breanna Douglas (KS) pin Cassandra Smith (OH), 0:32
144 – Lyric Gonzalves (Ks) pin Alyssa Pirro (OH), 0:58
152 – Jaylynne Smith (KS) by forfeit
180 – Elisa Robinson (KS) dec. Mckhenna Calhoun (OH), 4-0
200 – Kendall Bostelman (OH) pin Grace Pinkerton (KS), 5:11
Semifinals
California Red 65, Ohio 12
100 – Samantha Miller (OH) dec Hailey Ward (CA), 7-2
106 – Taryn Martin (OH) by forfeit
112 – Sugey Ceja (CA Red) tech. fall Kendall Bostelman (OH), 15-0
117 – Rory Coscia (CA Red) pin Kailiena Allen (OH), 2:24
122 – Andrea Schlaach (OH) dec. Adriana Lopez (CA Red), 6-5
127 – Caitlyn Cardenas (CA Red) pin Daisy Shardy (OH), 2:50
132 – Dalia Garibay (CA Red) by forfeit
138 – Destiny Lyng (CA Red) pin Allysa Pirro (OH), 1:16
144 – Joanna Qiu (CA Red) by forfeit
152 – Sierra Van Rossem (CA Red) by forfeit
164 – Katja Osteen (CA Red) by forfeit
180 – Alexandra Castillo (CA Red) pin Mckhenna Calhoun (OH), 5:34
200 – Emily Sandoval (CA Red) pin Kendall Bostelman (OH), 2:56
225 – Lillian McCoy (CA Red) by forfeit
Texas Red 51, Kansas 21
100 – Chalimar Rodriguez (TX Red) by forfeit
106 – Samara Chavez (TX Red) dec. Nicole Moore (KS), 10-3
112 – Camille Fournier (TX Red) pin Amanda Newcomb (KS), 1:59
117 – Emily Fergeson (TX Red) dec. Elise Rose (KS), 7-0
122 – Jordyn Knecht (KS) pin Cecilia Adams, 1:07
127 – Xochitl Mota-Pettis (TX Red) pin Taylor Rosner (KS), 0:32
132 – Morgan Mayginnes (KS) by forfeit
138 – Breanna Douglas (KS) pin Lexie Basham (TX Red), 2:41
144 – Jordan Suarez (TX Red) dec. Lyric Gonsalvez (KS), 5-3
152 – Kaylynn Albrecht (TX Red) pin Jaylynne Smith (KS), 1:46
164 – Augustina Ijoma (TX Red) by forfeit
180 – Elisa Robinson (KS) dec. Yissmet Perez Mesa (TX Red), 6-1
200 – Daya Powell (TX Red) pin Grace Pinkerton (KS), 1:38
225 – Alyssa Alvarez (TX Red) by forfeit
Quarterfinal results
California Red 57, Team Indiana 6
Ohio 43, Texas Blue 30
Kansas 48, Michigan Women’s National Team 22
Texas Red 52, California Blue 15
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